The Gun

The Gun (2010) by C.J. Chivers. The Gun leaves the reader with curiously mixed feelings. There is a feeling of triumph at having finished a really good book, thoroughly researched on a fascinating subject; and there is a feeling of queasiness brought on by the subject matter of the book. In this case, the subject is the AK-47 assault rifle, developed in the Soviet Union after World War II and now ubiquitous in conflicts all over the world. The AK-47, also known as the Kalashnikov, was carefully designed to be simple, reliable and lethal, and has been a resounding success as a killing machine. It was used in Vietnam by the enemy to defeat Americans carrying the inferior M-16. It is used in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in conflicts all over Africa. This book traces in nearly exhaustive detail the origins and development and spread of the Kalashnikov, and also has an entire chapter about the U.S. military's misadventure with the M-16, meant to be America's answer to the AK-47. It's an endlessly interesting book, although at times it seems that the author makes unnecessary digressions that could have been left out. Grade: A-